Garden City claims eighth Rutgers Cup amid 54-game winning streak

Garden City, located in the United States, recently celebrated a remarkable achievement in high school football by securing the Rutgers Cup, awarded to Nassau's most outstanding team. This victory marked the eighth time the Trojans have won this prestigious award, underscoring their dominance in the sport. The Trojans' winning streak reached an incredible 54 games, a Long Island record, as they completed their season with an undefeated record of 12-0. Their final championship game was a thrilling contest against Sayville, where they triumphed with a close score of 31-28 at Stony Brook University on November 30. The achievement was particularly significant as it represented Garden City's fourth consecutive Long Island championship. Coach Dave Ettinger expressed his pride in the team's performance and acknowledged the hard work of both the coaching staff and players throughout the season. Ettinger noted the increased difficulty of competing in a new conference and emphasized the excitement surrounding the championship matchup, which featured two highly respected programs. In addition to Garden City's success, Sayville was recognized as Suffolk's most outstanding team by receiving the Rutgers Trophy. The Trojans' consistent performance over the years can be attributed to a strong feeder program and the efforts of coaches at the youth and middle school levels. This focus on development has played a pivotal role in creating a competitive atmosphere for the program. The final standings for the season showed Garden City leading with 117 points and 29 first-place votes, followed by Carey with 87 points and 14 first-place votes. Carey, who also had an undefeated season (12-0), won the Long Island Class II championship. Other notable teams included Massapequa and Wantagh, both with solid records. The culmination of this season's successes highlights the tremendous talent present in the Long Island football landscape and sets a high bar for future competitions.